Board Candidates address issues of concern as election closes

The school board primary election on Feb. 17th has narrowed the ballot to four candidates, all competing for two board positions. The Apr. 7th election will feature incumbent Barbara Herzog, Paul Molitor, Mallory Schneider Birschbach and Jacob Wolf as they vie for public office. 

Personal Background

Herzog: After graduating from high school I came to Oshkosh for college, and received my bachelor’s degree and master's degree in education. I later came back to Oshkosh to be a curriculum director, then assistant superintendent. I’ve heard people in the community saying I'm a voice of reason on the board. That's important to me because I think it’s important to listen to different viewpoints to learn how decisions affect different people in the community.

Birschbach: I was born and raised in Oshkosh, and I graduated from Oshkosh West in 2005. I’ve been back now since 2015. Even when I wasn’t living in Oshkosh, I found I was spending most of my time here. I decided to move back, settle down, and have a family.

Wolf: I moved to the area in 2006 to attend UWO, where I met my wonderful wife. Today, we are raising three amazing kids, which has led me to a rewarding role as a community volunteer. For me, Oshkosh is more than just a place to live, it’s where I serve my community and raise my family. I am a husband, father, and coach who believes our schools should reflect the hard work and values of the families they serve. 

Molitor: I returned to Oshkosh in 2016 to be closer to family and for a position at Oshkosh Defense. Since returning, we have made our church home here, and have made many friends.With my background in education, coupled with years working in both blue-collar and white-collar jobs, I have an understanding of what is needed of our graduates whether they are college or occupationally bound. This, coupled with a Christian/conservative worldview, will add an essential voice to the board.

Decision to Run

Herzog: I have a background in education and I thought I could help continue to move the district forward. An opportunity came along where a board member had to resign. At this time I am choosing to run because I have some unfinished goals which I would like us to achieve.

Birschbach: I started paying closer attention to school board and district matters around the time my son started school. As I've become more involved in the community and after several years as president of the parent-teacher organization at my son's school, I want to expand my involvement to the greater Oshkosh community. I wish to serve the district and help make decisions with students, staff, and the community in mind.

Wolf: I am running for school board because I am not just a candidate, but an OASD parent with a vested interest in our district’s success. I felt that the best way to address concerns is through active service. I didn’t want to just sit on the sidelines and complain; I wanted to be a voice for the community that strives for positive change throughout the district. I’m not a politician; I’ll bring a blue-collar work ethic to the board to get the job done for our kids.

Molitor: The current school board has some diversity of thought and world view but needs more. When issues are discussed by the board, this discussion often misses a viewpoint that I hope to bring. I can think of a few recent board decisions that would have benefited from a more wide-ranging discussion.

Issues in the District

Herzog: I see two problems. One would be financial, there are 421 public school districts in the state of Wisconsin and at least half of them have faced budget problems because of declining enrollments. The second problem is improving our student achievement in literacy and math. I’ve said for a long time that those are not just scores, there are children behind them. So improving our test scores is key to our success as a district and students.

Birschbach: Unfortunately we are dealing with a deficit issue; there are multiple things that go into it. We are dealing with state funding, which is not in the board's control per se, but one of our duties as a board is that we are to advocate for a continuous improvement in public education. Sometimes it just takes more funding and resources for certain students to get the education we need, unfortunately, our state is not helping in that matter. We have a lot of students with unique needs, and we shouldn’t look at them as just numbers, we have to look at them as a full child.

Wolf: I believe the most pressing problem currently is the ongoing budgetary crisis. This is a systemic issue that affects more than just the district's bank accounts; it places an unsustainable burden on our educators, that in turn filters down into the classroom. Furthermore, I believe the district should implement an easily accessible dashboard that allows parents and teachers to see where every dollar is allocated. Transparency builds trust-an element that is currently lacking within the OASD. While these steps may not erase our deficit, they form a foundation to recovery. 

Molitor: The most pressing concerns start with unacceptable literacy and math competencies as seen by the Forward Exam results. This, in part, leads to the declining enrollment which adds to the budgetary woes, which the district is working on. 

by Isaac Considine-Buelow 

Published March 2, 2026

Oshkosh West Index Volume 122 Issue V